Roger Corman

Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works that have an already-established critical reputation, such as his cycle of low-budget cult films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe. In 1964, Corman—admired by members of the French New Wave and Cahiers du Cinéma—became the youngest filmmaker to have a retrospective at the Cinémathèque Française, as well as in the British Film Institute and the Museum of Modern Art. He was the co-founder of New World Pictures, the founder of New Concorde and is a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2009, he was awarded an Honorary Academy Award "for his rich engendering of films and filmmakers". Corman mentored and gave a start to many young film directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Peter Bogdanovich, Joe Dante, John Sayles, and James Cameron, and was highly influential in the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He also helped to launch the careers of actors like Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Sylvester Stallone, Diane Ladd, and William Shatner. Corman has occasionally taken minor acting roles in the films of directors who started with him, including The Silence of the Lambs, The Godfather Part II, Apollo 13, The ...

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The Fast and the Furious (1954)

A man wrongly imprisoned for murder breaks out of jail. He wants to clear his name, but with the police pursuing him, he's forced to take a beautiful young woman, driving a fast sports car, hostage and slip into a cross-border sports car race to try to make it to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Ireland  •  Edward Sampson
CAST:  John Ireland  •  Dorothy Malone  •  Bruce Carlisle  •  Iris Adrian

A man wrongly imprisoned for murder breaks out of jail. He wants to clear his name, but with the police pursuing him, he's forced to take a beautiful young woman, driving a fast sports car, hostage and slip into a cross-border sports car race to try to make it to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Ireland  •  Edward Sampson
CAST:  John Ireland  •  Dorothy Malone  •  Bruce Carlisle  •  Iris Adrian

The Raven (1963)

A magician who has been turned into a raven turns to a former sorcerer for help.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Vincent Price  •  Peter Lorre  •  Boris Karloff  •  Hazel Court

A magician who has been turned into a raven turns to a former sorcerer for help.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Vincent Price  •  Peter Lorre  •  Boris Karloff  •  Hazel Court

The Trip (1967)

After his wife leaves him, a disillusioned director dives into the drug scene, trying anything his friend suggests.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Peter Fonda  •  Susan Strasberg  •  Bruce Dern  •  Dennis Hopper

After his wife leaves him, a disillusioned director dives into the drug scene, trying anything his friend suggests.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Peter Fonda  •  Susan Strasberg  •  Bruce Dern  •  Dennis Hopper

Last Woman on Earth (1960)

Harold Gern, a shady businessman from New York, is spending a holiday in Puerto Rico with his attractive wife Evelyn. They are joined by Martin Joyce, Harold's lawyer, who has come to discuss the latest indictment. Harold invites him along on a boat trip during ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Betsy Jones-Moreland  •  Antony Carbone  •  Robert Towne

Harold Gern, a shady businessman from New York, is spending a holiday in Puerto Rico with his attractive wife Evelyn. They are joined by Martin Joyce, Harold's lawyer, who has come to discuss the latest indictment. Harold invites him along on a boat trip during ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Betsy Jones-Moreland  •  Antony Carbone  •  Robert Towne

The Tomb of Ligeia (1964)

Verden Fell is shattered after the death of his lovely wife. But, after an unexpected encounter with Lady Rowena Trevanion, Fell soon finds himself married again. Nevertheless, his late wife's spirit seems to hang over the dilapidated abbey that Fell shares with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Vincent Price  •  Elizabeth Shepherd  •  John Westbrook  •  Derek Francis

Verden Fell is shattered after the death of his lovely wife. But, after an unexpected encounter with Lady Rowena Trevanion, Fell soon finds himself married again. Nevertheless, his late wife's spirit seems to hang over the dilapidated abbey that Fell shares with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Vincent Price  •  Elizabeth Shepherd  •  John Westbrook  •  Derek Francis

Cannonball (1976)

Coy "Cannonball" Buckman (David Carradine) and his blazing red Pontiac enter the Trans-America Grand Prix, an underground road race spanning the continent in which there are no rules, no speed limits and no heed for the law. En route, Buckman jockeys with an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Bartel
CAST:  David Carradine  •  Bill McKinney  •  Veronica Hamel  •  Gerrit Graham

Coy "Cannonball" Buckman (David Carradine) and his blazing red Pontiac enter the Trans-America Grand Prix, an underground road race spanning the continent in which there are no rules, no speed limits and no heed for the law. En route, Buckman jockeys with an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Bartel
CAST:  David Carradine  •  Bill McKinney  •  Veronica Hamel  •  Gerrit Graham

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967)

Chicago February 14th 1929. Al Capone finally establishes himself as the city's boss of organised crime. In a north-side garage his hoods, dressed as policemen, surprise and mow down with machine-guns the key members of Bugs Moran's rival gang. The film traces the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Jason Robards  •  George Segal  •  Ralph Meeker  •  Jean Hale

Chicago February 14th 1929. Al Capone finally establishes himself as the city's boss of organised crime. In a north-side garage his hoods, dressed as policemen, surprise and mow down with machine-guns the key members of Bugs Moran's rival gang. The film traces the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Jason Robards  •  George Segal  •  Ralph Meeker  •  Jean Hale

The Independent (2000)

The Independent is a mockumentary comedy film made in 2000, directed by Stephen Kessler, starring Jerry Stiller as an independent film maker, who makes little-known B movies with titles like Twelve Angry Men and a Baby. The film spoofs independent directors and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Kessler
CAST:  Jerry Stiller  •  Paul Logan  •  Roger Corman  •  Janeane Garofalo

The Independent is a mockumentary comedy film made in 2000, directed by Stephen Kessler, starring Jerry Stiller as an independent film maker, who makes little-known B movies with titles like Twelve Angry Men and a Baby. The film spoofs independent directors and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Kessler
CAST:  Jerry Stiller  •  Paul Logan  •  Roger Corman  •  Janeane Garofalo

Swamp Women (1956)

An undercover policewoman helps three female convicts escape from prison so that they can lead her to a stash of stolen diamonds hidden in a swamp.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Marie Windsor  •  Carole Mathews  •  Beverly Garland  •  Mike Connors

An undercover policewoman helps three female convicts escape from prison so that they can lead her to a stash of stolen diamonds hidden in a swamp.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Marie Windsor  •  Carole Mathews  •  Beverly Garland  •  Mike Connors

The Undead (1957)

Two psychics place a prostitute under hypnosis in order to learn about her past-life experiences. When they unwittingly send her back in time, she finds herself in the Middle Ages, suspected of being a witch and on the verge of being executed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Pamela Duncan  •  Richard Garland  •  Allison Hayes  •  Val Dufour

Two psychics place a prostitute under hypnosis in order to learn about her past-life experiences. When they unwittingly send her back in time, she finds herself in the Middle Ages, suspected of being a witch and on the verge of being executed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Pamela Duncan  •  Richard Garland  •  Allison Hayes  •  Val Dufour

Frankenstein Unbound (1990)

The ultimate weapon, claimed to be safe for mankind, produces global side-effects including time slides and disappearances. The scientist behind the project and his car are zapped from the year 2031 to 1817 in Switzerland where he meets Dr. Victor Frankenstein, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  John Hurt  •  Raúl Juliá  •  Nick Brimble  •  Bridget Fonda

The ultimate weapon, claimed to be safe for mankind, produces global side-effects including time slides and disappearances. The scientist behind the project and his car are zapped from the year 2031 to 1817 in Switzerland where he meets Dr. Victor Frankenstein, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  John Hurt  •  Raúl Juliá  •  Nick Brimble  •  Bridget Fonda

Tales of Terror (1962)

Three stories adapted from the work of Edgar Allen Poe: 1) A man and his daughter are reunited, but the blame for the death of his wife hangs over them, unresolved. 2) A derelict challenges the local wine-tasting champion to a competition, but finds the man's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Vincent Price  •  Peter Lorre  •  Basil Rathbone  •  Debra Paget

Three stories adapted from the work of Edgar Allen Poe: 1) A man and his daughter are reunited, but the blame for the death of his wife hangs over them, unresolved. 2) A derelict challenges the local wine-tasting champion to a competition, but finds the man's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Vincent Price  •  Peter Lorre  •  Basil Rathbone  •  Debra Paget

Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen (2004)

Documentary on the life and work of B-movie filmmaker Edgar G. Ulmer, spanning from his early life to his last film.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Palm
CAST:  Joe Dante  •  Peter Bogdanovich  •  John Landis  •  Wim Wenders

Documentary on the life and work of B-movie filmmaker Edgar G. Ulmer, spanning from his early life to his last film.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Palm
CAST:  Joe Dante  •  Peter Bogdanovich  •  John Landis  •  Wim Wenders

Battle of Blood Island (1960)

Two American GIs are the only survivors of a unit wiped out in a battle with Japanese troops on an isolated island. The two, who don't like each other, find try to put aside their differences in order to evade the Japanese and survive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Rapp
CAST:  Ron Gans  •  Richard Devon  •  Roger Corman

Two American GIs are the only survivors of a unit wiped out in a battle with Japanese troops on an isolated island. The two, who don't like each other, find try to put aside their differences in order to evade the Japanese and survive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Rapp
CAST:  Ron Gans  •  Richard Devon  •  Roger Corman

A Time for Killing (1967)

During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers escape from a Union prison and head for the Mexican border. Along the way, they kill a Union courier bearing the news that the war is over. Keeping the message a secret, the captain has his men go on and they soon find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phil Karlson  •  Roger Corman
CAST:  Inger Stevens  •  Glenn Ford  •  George Hamilton  •  Paul Petersen

During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers escape from a Union prison and head for the Mexican border. Along the way, they kill a Union courier bearing the news that the war is over. Keeping the message a secret, the captain has his men go on and they soon find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phil Karlson  •  Roger Corman
CAST:  Inger Stevens  •  Glenn Ford  •  George Hamilton  •  Paul Petersen

Corman's World (2011)

A chronicle of the long career of American filmmaker Roger Corman, the most tenacious and ingenious low-budget producer and director in the US film industry, a pioneer of independent filmmaking and discoverer of new talent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alex Stapleton
CAST:  Martin Scorsese  •  Robert De Niro  •  Gary J. Tunnicliffe  •  Quentin Tarantino

A chronicle of the long career of American filmmaker Roger Corman, the most tenacious and ingenious low-budget producer and director in the US film industry, a pioneer of independent filmmaking and discoverer of new talent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alex Stapleton
CAST:  Martin Scorsese  •  Robert De Niro  •  Gary J. Tunnicliffe  •  Quentin Tarantino

Sorority Girl (1957)

A poor-little-rich-girl feels alienated by her mother and enacts a string of revenges on her fellow pupils at a girls' boarding school. However, she is outcast when one of her stunts nearly drives a girl to suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Susan Cabot  •  Dick Miller  •  Barboura Morris  •  June Kenney

A poor-little-rich-girl feels alienated by her mother and enacts a string of revenges on her fellow pupils at a girls' boarding school. However, she is outcast when one of her stunts nearly drives a girl to suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Susan Cabot  •  Dick Miller  •  Barboura Morris  •  June Kenney

Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. (1970)

A gas is let loose upon the world that kills anyone over 25 years old.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Bud Cort  •  Talia Shire  •  Elaine Giftos  •  Ben Vereen

A gas is let loose upon the world that kills anyone over 25 years old.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Bud Cort  •  Talia Shire  •  Elaine Giftos  •  Ben Vereen

Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie (2013)

Once a vibrant part of American culture, drive-ins reached their peak in the late 1950s with almost 5,000 dotting the nation. Although drive-ins are experiencing a resurgence, today less than 400 remain. In a nation that loves cars and movies, why haven't they ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  April Wright
CAST:  Roger Corman  •  Patricia King Hanson

Once a vibrant part of American culture, drive-ins reached their peak in the late 1950s with almost 5,000 dotting the nation. Although drive-ins are experiencing a resurgence, today less than 400 remain. In a nation that loves cars and movies, why haven't they ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  April Wright
CAST:  Roger Corman  •  Patricia King Hanson

Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012)

Aspiring college cheerleader, Cassie Stratford consumes an experimental drug that grants her beauty and enough athletic ability to make the cheer squad. The drug has an unforeseen side effect — Cassie starts to grow and grow and grow!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kevin O'Neill
CAST:  Jena Sims  •  Sean Young  •  Ryan Merriman  •  Treat Williams

Aspiring college cheerleader, Cassie Stratford consumes an experimental drug that grants her beauty and enough athletic ability to make the cheer squad. The drug has an unforeseen side effect — Cassie starts to grow and grow and grow!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kevin O'Neill
CAST:  Jena Sims  •  Sean Young  •  Ryan Merriman  •  Treat Williams
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